tion. It was at present, according to the parfon's account, in the hands of about a dozen people, who, Mr Wilfull complained, had the entire difpofal of it. He wished its government to be in the people at large; by which, however, the clergyman frankly confeffed his patron meant, if poffible, to get the management of it to himfelf. Mean time he had taught the inhabitants, every foul of them, proper ideas of freedom and independence; in cultivating these, indeed, they had loft fome others which people who don't know the value of liberty might reckon as ufeful. There were formerly one or two thriving manufactures in the town; but they had of late been driven out of it as hoftile to its freedom. I asked the clergyman, what branches they now carried on there?"Oh! now, Sir," faid he, " they are all bufy in making-reforms."

In fhort, Mr Lounger, (for I am afraid of tiring you with my recital), I found, from this day's information, as well as my own experience during another which I spent at Mr Wilfull's, that this gentleman is fo very fond of liberty, that he is inclined to monopolize it entirely to himself. Not caring either to fuffer in filence, or to quarrel with my kinfman by afferting my freedom, I contrived fome apology for putting an end to my vift on the morning of the fourth day; and I confefs

confefs was very happy to leave this champion for independence, to return to the government of an elderly aunt, who keeps house for me; who, though of old-fashioned Tory principles, is yet very fond of her nephew, very indulgent to the fervants, and very hofpitable to the neighbours; and who, though he does not trouble herself about the good of her country, feeds the best fowls, makes the best mince-pies, and brews the best ale in the world. I am, &c.

No 66. SATURDAY, May 6. 1786.

To the AUTHOR of the LOUNGER.

SIR;

No complaints are more commonly made, or

more readily liftened to, than thofe of

genius neglected, or talents unrewarded, of merit overlooked. That thefe complaints fhould often be made on flight pretences, may easily be accounted for from the effects of felf-love and of conceit; and that people fhould attend to them with indulgence will not be wondered at, when we reflect that we are naturally inclined to favour those whofe circumftances do not awaken our envy, especially if they furnish us with the means of decrying others whofe fituation excites it.

But even where genius is actually found to languish in obscurity, or to pine in indigence, the world is not always to be blamed for its neglect. Genius is often too proud to afk favours which the world is too proud to offer; or too bafhful

1

to

feek out.

to display abilities which others are too busy to Befides that the fplendid qualities of which it boafts are often lefs fitted for the province it has chofen than much more moderate abilities, it fometimes allows them to be mixed with failings, which render their poffeffor lefs eafily made happy, and thofe around him lefs difpofed to contribute to his happiness. Temper, moderation, and humility, a toleration of folly, and an attention to trifles, are endowments neceffary in the commerce with mankind; often as ufeful, and generally more attractive, than wisdom, learning, eloquence, or wit, when attended with arrogance, ill-nature, an ungracious manner, or a forbidding addrefs.

It will likewife be confidered, that, in general, thofe inferior minds, whom genius and talents are apt to defpife, are much more eafily made happy than those who occupy the rank above them. The measure of our defires is commonly enlarged in proportion to the comprehensiveness of our minds, and the catalogue of our evils frequently increased in proportion to the range of our imaginations. In many occurrences of life, genius and fancy discover evils which dullness and infenfibility would efcape, and delicacy of feeling mars that pleafure which thoughtlefs vivacity would perfectly enjoy.

Bb 3.

You

You gave, in one of your earlier papers, an account of two gentlemen, both fortunate in life, but very differently affected by their good fortune. One who was above the enjoyment of any ordinary good; the other, on whom every at tainment conferred happiness, who had no eye for deformity, and no feeling for uneafinefs. Allow me to illustrate the fame power of a conftitutional difference of temper upon the oppofite fituation, from the example of two perfons, whofe characters fome late incidents gave me a particular opportunity of tracing.

Tom Sanguine and Ned Profpect, like your friends Clitander and Eudocius, were fchool-fellows. Sanguine was the first boy of the school in point of learning, and very often its leader in every thing. The latter diftinction it coft him many a black eye to maintain, as he generally had a battle with every lad who difputed his preeminence, or who objected to any project he had laid down for his companions. Sometimes he was thrown entirely out of his command, and would be whole days in a state of profcription from his fellows, attended only by one or two little boys, whom he either awed or bribed to continue of his party.

Prospect had a certain influence too, but it was acquired by different means. He had no pretenfions